NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq chairs the meeting. Photo: Geo News 

ISLAMABAD: A meeting of parliamentary parties, chaired by National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, over the issue of delimitation of constituencies is under way. 

A similar meeting was held on Tuesday but the participants failed to reach a conclusion on the pending legislation regarding delimitation of constituencies in line with the latest census results.

However, as per Sadiq, they were all in agreement that the next general elections should not be delayed.

The representatives of political parties were tasked to consult their party leaders and come back with proposals today. 

On Tuesday, sources said the PPP continued to demand that the matter should be decided in the Council of Common Interests whereas the government still states that there is no need for this venture.

Last week, the parties had agreed on keeping the total number of NA seats the same and changing the quota of the provinces in light with the provisional census results.

Deadlock over delimitation bill continues as parliamentary parties' meeting ends

Parliament is yet to make legislation to allow ECP to hold next elections in line with latest census

However, when the time came to pass the appropriate legislation in the NA, the main opposition parties, PPP, PTI and MQM, backed out.

Moreover, the government lawmakers also seemed uninterested as many did not attend the NA proceedings last Thursday and Friday. 

The government on Monday (Nov 6) prorogued the NA session ? a decision which NA Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah criticised in a media talk today.

The ECP has said it needs Parliament to pass necessary legislation in line with the latest census if next year's elections are to be held on time.

At present, the PPP says it wants to see elections held on time whereas the PTI has called for early elections.